Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > London > Sights > St Pauls Cathedral
Subterranean Chamber beneath the House, No.1, Old Fish-Street, St. Paul's, 1854. Creator: Smyth
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Heritage Images
Subterranean Chamber beneath the House, No.1, Old Fish-Street, St. Paul's, 1854. Creator: Smyth
Subterranean Chamber beneath the House, No.1, Old Fish-Street, St. Paul's, 1854. Ancient building in the City of London. It appears that during some recent alterations...some vaults were discovered...The inner chamber, which is the smaller of the two, contains a raised seat, canopied in, and in part perfect. In the side recesses are stone slabs, which a writer in the Literary Gazette...considers "to have formed cupboards or lockers, being firmly fixed with strong iron clamps. In one of these recesses [was] a marble trough...which, from its peculiar shape, suggests the notion that it was used for the total immersion of the infant in baptism". We rather incline to the opinion expressed in the Literary Gazette - that these vaults were the scene of the Roman Catholic rites, when the priests of the old religion were proscribed, and people were forbidden to harbour them under heavy penalties'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854
Heritage Images features heritage image collections
Media ID 36232043
© The Print Collector/Heritage Images
Archaeological Baptism Baptismal Ceiling Chamber City Of London England Dark Darkness Flaming Torch Forbidden Investigation Secret Smyth Subterranean Torch Underground Vaulted Vaulted Ceiling
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Animals
> Fishes
> Related Images
> Architecture
> Country
> England
> Architecture
> Harbours
> Architecture
> Styles
> Roman Architecture
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> London
> Boroughs
> City of London
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> London
> Sights
> St Pauls Cathedral
> Religious Art
> Religious Architecture
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, titled "Subterranean Chamber beneath the House, No.1, Old Fish-Street, St. Paul's," was captured by the skilled lens of Smyth in 1854. The image reveals an ancient building in the heart of London, hidden beneath the modern cityscape. During some recent renovations, workers unearthed these subterranean vaults, revealing a glimpse into the past. The larger chamber in the photograph displays a vaulted ceiling, with intricate stonework and remnants of what appear to be torches or candles, hinting at the space's historical significance. The inner chamber, however, is smaller and contains a raised seat, canopied in, and in part, perfectly preserved. The side recesses of the inner chamber are home to stone slabs, which a writer in the "Literary Gazette" believed "to have formed cupboards or lockers, being firmly fixed with strong iron clamps." One of these recesses held a marble trough, which, from its peculiar shape, suggests the notion that it was used for the total immersion of an infant in baptism. The "Literary Gazette" further speculated that these vaults were the scene of the Roman Catholic rites, when the priests of the old religion were proscribed, and people were forbidden to harbor them under heavy penalties. The discovery of these hidden chambers offers a tantalizing glimpse into London's rich history and the city's complex religious past.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
